Imo wedding guests killing: DSS takes responsibility, insists ‘victims were ESN members’
Amid the shifting of blames for the killing, last Sunday, of seven people said to be wedding guests returning from an occasion in the Awo-Omamma area of Imo State, the Department of State Security (DSS) has claimed responsibility for the incident, saying, however, that the victims were members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Initial reports had claimed that nine youths from Otulu, in Oru East local government area killed while returning from a wedding ceremony at Awomama in Oru West on Sunday were killed by operatives of Ebubeagu.
While residents had initially blamed operatives of the Operation Ebube-agu security outfit, the State Government after toeing the same line, admitted that the DSS carried out the killing.
However, the DSS in Imo State has now taken responsibility for the action, as, the agency, in a statement, claimed that the deceased persons were killed in ‘an exchange of fierce gunfire between a joint security team and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), on Sunday resulting in the death of seven suspected hoodlums.’
DSS in a statement made available to journalists while parading the suspect, at the command in Owerri, Imo State capital, insisted that the victims killed on Sunday were members of ESN and not guests coming from a wedding ceremony as against earlier reports.
“Following the arrest of Chinonso Mmerem (aka Network), a member of IPOB militant wing, ESN, a sting operation was conducted by a joint security team on 17” July 2022, to arrest members of the criminal gang terrorizing Awo-Omama and other parts of the state.
“In course of the operation, the elements opened fire on the security forces which was consequently repelled with superior firepower leading to the neutralization of about seven (7) members of the criminal group in the hideout used as their camp.
“The elements were gathered at the above location planning for the armed enforcement of the illegal Monday sit-at-home order in Awo-Omamma and other parts of the state which informed the operation to neutralize their plan.
“At this juncture, it is pertinent to inform that the elements gathered to plan their nefarious operations and not attend a traditional marriage as being speculated by members of the outlawed group,” read the DSS report.
While being paraded Tuesday evening Chinonso Mmerem Mmerem confessed that the victims killed on Sunday were members of ESN killed at their camp.
Mmerem said: ” I led the DSS to the ESN camp at Awomama, I was caught a week ago by the security agents, on Sunday I led them to the camp where they were having meetings against Monday for the sit-at-home.”
Corroborating the DSS, State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, in a statement, through his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwuike Nwachukwu described the reports as propaganda even as he added that the State government won’t be deterred by it in its bid to cob the insecurity challenge in the State.
“Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said that government will not be deterred by propaganda and blackmail in her quest to protect the lives and property of Imo citizens.
“Governor Uzodimma said that the government had been briefed on the incident by the Director of State Services in an interim report made available to members of the Security Council.
“The Governor added that the DSS Director confirmed that his men carried out an operation in a Camp at Awomma with the assistance of their informant and not at a wedding place as claimed by the youths and that it was in the process that some bandits were neutralized,” the governor said.
